Mental Health Emergency Needs in Disasters Act

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8422 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8422

     To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act to establish programs for the provision of mental health 
  services to individuals affected by a major disaster, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 16, 2024

    Ms. Balint (for herself and Mrs. Gonzalez-Colon) introduced the 
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation 
   and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland 
Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
   each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the 
                jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
     To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act to establish programs for the provision of mental health 
  services to individuals affected by a major disaster, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Mental Health Emergency Needs in 
Disasters Act''.

SEC. 2. ASSISTANCE FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AFTER MAJOR DISASTER.

    Title IV of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:

``SEC. 431. MOBILE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS SERVICES.

    ``(a) In General.--The President, acting through the Administrator 
of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is authorized to provide 
mental and behavioral health counseling services to victims of a major 
disaster in order to relieve mental health problems caused or 
aggravated by such major disaster or the aftermath of such disaster.
    ``(b) Type of Assistance.--The provision of behavioral counseling 
services under this section shall be provided through mobile mental 
health crisis units and such units shall--
            ``(1) be deployed to counties located in the area affected 
        by a major disaster for not more than 2 years after the date on 
        which the President declared such major disaster;
            ``(2) be staffed by individuals who--
                    ``(A) are employees of the Federal Emergency 
                Management Agency;
                    ``(B) are appropriately trained to--
                            ``(i) address the effects of major 
                        disasters on communities and individuals with 
                        socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) provide culturally appropriate care;
                    ``(C) are professionally trained and appropriately 
                licensed to provide evidence-based care, such as 
                psychological first aid, crisis counseling, sudden 
                death counseling, and counseling to individuals with 
                post-traumatic stress disorder; and
                    ``(D) to the extent practicable, have experience 
                providing mental health services in the area affected 
                by the major disaster; and
            ``(3) disperse information about resources, other 
        preventive materials, and available peer supports.
    ``(c) Technical Assistance.--In carrying out this section, the 
Administrator may consult with and receive technical assistance or 
training from the Director of the Center for Mental Health Services of 
the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
    ``(d) Timing.--The Administrator shall ensure that mobile mental 
health crisis units described in subsection (b) are deployed 
immediately following a major disaster.

``SEC. 432. MENTAL HEALTH DISASTER GRANTS.

    ``(a) In General.--The President, acting through the Administrator 
of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is authorized to provide 
grants to a State or Indian tribal government for the purpose of 
providing behavioral health treatment, including screening and 
diagnosis, crisis counseling, other related crisis helplines, or other 
service-delivery programs to individuals affected by a major disaster.
    ``(b) Eligibility.--A State or Indian tribal government may only 
receive a grant under this section during the 2-year period beginning 
on the date on which the President declares the major disaster for 
which the State or Indian tribal government applies for such grant.
    ``(c) Application.--Any State or Indian tribal government seeking a 
grant under this section shall submit to the Administrator an 
application containing materials describing any mental health services 
available to individuals in the jurisdiction of the State or Indian 
tribal government, including an initial needs assessment describing 
unmet mental health service needs, and critical gaps in mental and 
substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery support 
service systems.
    ``(d) Prioritization.--In providing grants under this section, the 
Administrator shall prioritize awarding grants to States or Indian 
tribal governments with jurisdiction over areas that have high unmet 
needs for mental health services.
    ``(e) Technical Assistance.--In carrying out this section, the 
Administrator may consult with and receive technical assistance or 
training from the Director of the Center for Mental Health Services of 
the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $44,000,000 for each fiscal 
year.''.

SEC. 3. RESEARCH ON MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS AFTER 
              MAJOR DISASTER.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency shall establish a research program on the effects of 
major disasters (as such term is defined in section 102 of the Robert 
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5122)) on incidences and severity of mental health disorders, substance 
use disorders, and alcohol use disorders, including the incidence and 
severity of such disorders across cultural, racial, and socioeconomic 
groups.
    (b) Requirements.--The program established under subsection (a) 
shall include research on--
            (1) efficacy of assistance provided under the Robert T. 
        Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
        U.S.C. 5121 et seq.);
            (2) the various long-term behavioral health effects on 
        adults and children caused by specific types of major 
        disasters; and
            (3) any other subject that the Administrator determines is 
        necessary.
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